More Etudes and Tonalization

You know how you practice at home and feel pretty good about your practice until you go to your lesson and find out your playing is not quite right like you thought. For that reason along, I am glad I have a teacher instead of trying to learn on my on. I am almost at the end of book 1 of Suzuki Cello. So back to more practicing.

Happy Celloing Cellists

Pernambuco bow

Let me just say I would like to thank you guys for your comments. You guys are great and and give me such encouragement. In my city we do not have any String instrument places to go to that just specializes in strings or a place that have a variety of string instruments and bows. There are Indianapolis and Elkhart and Chicago which has such place. But I did hear about a place that have a variety of band (school) instruments. So I decided to go there and the gentleman that serviced me was very nice. Their main store is in Elkhart. I told him I originally had a Glosser bow and wanted to try another Glosser and that I did have a budget that I wanted to stay in. He stated he may have a Brazilwood and he knew he had a Glosser. Any other bows he could get next week. So he went in the back and came back with 3 bows. So he brought out a Glosser $70.00 bow, $100.00 Brazilwood not sure of the maker, and a $200.00 Pernambuco bow. I asked him if I could try the bows out so he brought out a 3/4 Cello -that's all he had-and I sat down and tested each bow. I probably spent about a total of 20 minutes or so playing the Cello with each bow.
You know I was not sure if I would be able to tell the difference between the bows because I have not been playing that long. Happily, I could tell the difference. I went back and fourth with each bow starting with the similar one I had. There was not much difference between the Glosser bow and the Brazilwood but, I did like the Glosser bow better. My bow stroke was basically what I was used to .
The Brazilwood was like $40.00 more than the Glosser and it did not felt quite as good and there was not much difference in the sound.
When I picked up the Pernambuco bow it felt better in my hand, the sound and my stroke was better but, it was about $100.00 more.
So here was my dilemma do I stay with the same bow I had previously or do I upgrade with a better bow. My daughter did give me money to help on the bow purchase for my Mother's day present so, Pernambuco bow it was. I am happy with the purchase. He even gave me a 15% discount off the bow. I feel that was money well spent.

New Bow

The Cello that I presently have, I am renting and I had to obtain a new bow because I found out I had been placing my bow in my Cello case in the wrong direction which cause the velcro that kept the bow in its' place to catch on to the hairs. This went on for a while before I became aware of the cause. Now, little old naive me thought that I would just go get another bow and it would be alright. Wrong! The music store replaced the bow but, it does not feel the same. The bow feels lighter and it skips or bounce. I did rosin the bow several times (a number of times) and it is better but it still skips every now and then. I never had that with the other bow. So I am going to a Violin shop in the Indianapolis area when I visit my daughter or to the Chicago area when I visit my sister to find an inexpensive but good bow. My price range is $60--$100 maybe. I dont want to spend a lot on the bow. I am still a newbie mind you. Anyone have any good suggestions on a good inexpensive bow?

Tonalization

I met with my teacher today. It went quite well. I learned quite a bit. I could not quite understand how to get the different pitches of sound, forte, mforte, p -hard to soft-. You use the weight of the bow not apply weight with your hand. My bowing is also improving.

Todays practice

Practice today did not go too bad. My bow grip is getting better. I am not strangling the bow as much. I am working on the C major scale and the Etude related to that scale. I am looking forward to my lesson tomorrow with my teacher. I am so thankful to him. He is very patient. We meet once a week. I tell you I need that right now. Keep me in your thoughts for successful bowing.

Bugs Bunny on Broadway

I went to to see Bugs Bunny on Broadway -sponsored by the Philaharmonic- last night and it was great. I really enjoyed myself. I am trying to find what genre of classical music I like and how to understand a piece of music. I am a newbie at this. I want to understand the point of that piece of music. There is so much feeling and passion behind it. Anyone have any suggestons?